Doha, July 15 (QNA) - In line with the Third Financial Sector Strategy and the ESG and Sustainability Strategy for the Financial Sector on Enhancing Financial Inclusion, Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has issued instructions on financial services for customers with disabilities and the elderly.

QCB indicated that the targeted groups include customers with disabilities who are able to make their own decisions, as well as the elderly.

The circular outlines several required provisions, including facilitating access for customers from the targeted groups in all bank branches and ATM locations for banking services by providing ramps, electronic doors, tactile floor signs.

QCB stressed giving priority to the targeted groups when conducting transactions in the bank, ensuring privacy for customers with disabilities, and training a portion of the customer service staff on the basics of sign language or providing a virtual interpreter, in addition to educating targeted customers about the risks associated with over-indebtedness, providing ATMs equipped with Braille and audio headsets at a rate of 15% of the total number of ATMs, and placing a clear signal on ATM machines indicating the type of disability supported by the machine.

Additionally, banks must guide customers with disabilities to the nearest supportive banking services (branches and/or ATMs).

QCB also urged banks to train staff to recognize and respond to financial exploitation of the elderly and meet with elderly clients to confirm agreed arrangements and ensure they understand the agent's legal authority, in addition to encourage the elderly to seek independent legal and financial advice before granting power of attorney and informing the elderly clients of all actions the agent may take under the power of attorney.

Banks are given a period of five months to comply with these requirements, QCB said. (QNA)